Havana, October 25 (JIT) --The Cuban swimming team said goodbye to the XIX Pan American Games with six finals, fourth place in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay and three national records, all at the Ñuñoa Aquatic Center.
The 4x100-meter combined medley relay finished eighth with a national record that was in line with expectations. The trend of improving in the finals the times obtained in the elimination rounds was maintained, a sign of the evolution and competitiveness shown in the competition.
Laurent Estrada, Daysi Ramírez, Lorena González and Elisbet Gámez swam first the race in 4:18.57 minutes, a record for the Island and the fourth best time of the preliminaries, due to notable absences in the favorite teams.
In the decisive segment, coach Luisa María Mojarrieta moved the lineup with Andrea Becali in the last leg for Elisbet Gámez and they registered 4:16.59, almost two seconds down.
The Island's swimmers became "all-rounders" during the competition, starring in three medal contests in which they had more options to improve their times than to reach the podium.
"As a result of the results in the Central American and Caribbean Games of San Salvador 2023, expectations soared, but this scenario was different and it was impossible to arrive with the same performance. There was a much shorter period of preparation and other details influenced, but we are satisfied," acknowledged the national swimming commissioner, Nelson Garcia.
"The girls showed again the potential and talent they have. They gave their best in each event and improved significantly in some of them," said the executive before highlighting the performances of Laurent and Becali for their individual progressions.
He was especially pleased to note the progress of Becali, who has made the transition from backstroke to freestyle. She played a significant role in all the relays, especially in the 4x100, in which they took fifth place with a national record of 3:44.97 minutes. The Havana native also "snuck" into the individual finals of 100 and 200 meters freestyle, marking the way towards a promising future.
Elisbet did not show her best version now. Staying the last weeks of the preparation in the scholarship granted by the international federation of this sport did not yield the expected results.
In any case, the swimmer from Baracoa proved to be a warrior and did not give up the leading role that corresponds to her as the main Cuban swimmer of recent times. Her contribution was fundamental for the recent results.
Cuba still has to wait for the participation of Rodolfo Falcón Jr. in the open water event scheduled for October 29. The United States dominated swimming with 46 medals, 19 gold, 17 silver and 10 bronze.
